Posts Tagged ‘repurposing’

I blogged about my November Project earlier – focusing on reusing and repurposing things more. So here are the week 1 results:

1. Toy storage

The Poptart needed a laundry basket. She’s also outgrown her bassinet. So the bassinet got repurposed as toy storage for the living room, and the basket we had been using got switched to her laundry basket:

2. Baby Proofing

The TV stand in the living room is a Costco special. Its made of metal and heavy, tempered glass. Its big enough to support a 60″ tv. It is, in other words, a good item for the Poptart to knock her head against:

So we got some insulation tubing for water pipes. They’re foam tubes that have a slit up the side. They are now attached to the edges:

The Poptart, of course, has already figured out how to pull them off.

I’m calling this a repurposing because, well, it is. Even though we bought the insulation new.

3. I feel like a heel. Its kind of crummy

I made these:

Into this:

Rather than throwing out the bread heels, I turned them into bread crumbs. Please to ignore the parts to my blender and food processor lying about. Also please to ignore the dirty food processor.

Pretty much all of us are familiar with the ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ mantra. What we don’t always remember, though, is that those actions are listed in order of priority. The most sustainable choice is always to reduce our consumption. If that fails, reusing something that we already have, or that someone else already has, is an excellent second choice. And only then, if an item is not reusable, recycling is a good way to reduce our waste and our consumption of raw materials.

(Emphasis added)

A lot of people I know have already reduced their consumption. They also recycle, for one reason or another. But I’m curious: how much do we actually reuse stuff beyond the usual reusing shopping bags, ziplocs, wrapping paper/gift bags etc? Or, dare I say it, repurpose it?

And let’s face it: November on the Wet Coast is dreary, dark and generally unpleasant. I need a project other than finding new ways to wear the Poptart in the Babyhawk or the Beco and washing diapers.

So for November I’m going to figure out ways to repurpose and reuse things beyond the shopping bags, the cloth diapers, etc. at least 3 times a week. Nothing complex, just a little outside-the-box thinking.